Google rolled out a major spam-related algorithm update in August 2025, shaking up search results worldwide. While some sites gained visibility, many saw sudden ranking drops — especially those relying on low-quality content, link schemes, or AI-generated text without real value.
At Codeguys, we’ve been monitoring the impact across Chester, Liverpool, and Manchester businesses. Here’s what you need to know.
What is the August 2025 Spam Update?
This update is part of Google’s ongoing effort to reduce manipulative SEO tactics and improve search quality. It specifically targets:
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Thin content that adds little to no value.
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Over-optimised AI-spam published at scale without human oversight.
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Toxic backlink patterns from private networks or low-trust sources.
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Duplicate content across multiple domains.
In short: if your site leans on shortcuts, Google’s filtering them out.
Who Was Affected?
Not just obvious 'spam' sites. We’ve seen:
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Local businesses with weak authority pages losing ground to stronger competitors.
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Blogs with mass AI content dropping overnight.
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E-commerce stores penalised for duplicate manufacturer descriptions.
If you noticed traffic dips from late August, this update could be the reason.
How to Check if You Were Hit
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Review your Google Search Console performance report for sudden impressions/click drops.
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Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or SE Ranking to check keyword movements.
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Compare traffic with Google’s algorithm update timelines — does the drop align with late August?
How to Recover
If you’ve been impacted, don’t panic. Here’s what works:
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Audit content quality
– Remove or rewrite thin, duplicate, or low-value pages.
– Add depth, unique insights, and human expertise. -
Boost E-E-A-T signals
– Author bios, credentials, customer reviews, case studies.
– Transparent business details and trust markers. -
Fix backlink profile
– Disavow toxic links if necessary.
– Focus on high-quality, relevant backlinks from local and industry sites. -
Improve technical SEO
– Check page speed, mobile usability, schema markup. -
Play the long game
– Publish authentic, useful content consistently.
– Build brand authority locally and nationally.
Moving Forward
Google spam updates aren’t going away — they’re becoming more frequent and more precise. The best strategy? Focus on authentic content, genuine authority, and real user value.
That’s how you’ll not only recover but also future-proof your rankings.
How Codeguys Can Help
If your site has dipped since August, we can:
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Run a Full SEO audit to uncover issues.
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Strengthen your content strategy with expert copywriting.
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Clean up your backlink profile and boost authority.
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Optimise for local SEO in Chester, Liverpool, Manchester and beyond.
Get in touch with Codeguys today — and let’s get your site ranking stronger than ever.
